Category: Philanthropy

Tony Petrello and President/CEO of Nabor Industries focuses on giving back after Daughter Carena was born prematurely eight years ago. It has been a long journey for little Carena, as she has only just begun to be capable of eating on her own this year. Tony Petrello, along with his wife Cynthia have given their time, emotional and monetary support tirelessly to fund scientific research for periventricular leukomalacia, or PVL. Carena was born at only 6 months gestation. Weighing only 20 ounces, Carina’s disorder developed into Cerebral Palsey from the lack of oxygen to her small brain.

Never giving up hope for a Cure

After Tony and his wife researched and contacted the best institutions available in the country, it was brought to their attention that there is just simply not enough light being shone on research for premature infants , PVI and Cerebral Palsey or for individuals with brain injuries in general. Tony is a member of the Texas Children’s Hospital Board of Trustees and is working closely with Texas Children’s Hospital to give Carena the daily care that she requires. Tony describes his Daughter as a joy, and an inspiration to everyone she meets.

Tony Petrello, best known for his articulate business strategy, was not born into wealth and success

Tony Pertrello is not just the leader of natural gas drilling and oil. He is a one of the highest paid CEO’s in the United States, in his own right. He is admired widely for his competent business dealings and as a pioneer of innovation in his field. Yet, to his friends and family Tony is described as a genuine and humble human being, from meager beginnings. Tony Petrello grew up in a family that often struggled to make ends meet in Newark, New Jersey. His big break came when he was offered a scholarship to Yale based on his exceptional grades and PHD level mathematics skill upon high-school graduation.

Tony Petrello celebrates the life of his Yale professor Serge Lang

Tony Petrello contributed a generous $150,000 to honor the Mathematics Professor Serge Lang, who was considered one of the most prolific educators and mathematicians of his generation. Tony Petrello keeps the dream of Serge Lang alive by keeping his vision of funding exceptional student education alive. Tony Petrello did not stop at just an initial contribution for his dear friend. He also has announced that he would generously match any other donations up to another $150,000. Tony Petrello makes generous contributions that matter in a business not often venerated for its philanthropy.

While many know Betsy Devos through her recent appointment as the United States’ Secretary of Education, fewer know the journey that she has taken to reach this position. Betsy’s path to this point was long and winding, but throughout it all, she demonstrated a clear care for others and a desire to reform education in a positive way. DeVos’ dedication to improving education highlights why she was such a great choice for the job, and as she continues to serve in her role, she flashes the skills she accrued through so many years of experience. Her and her husband Dick have powerfully aligned goals, and even though much of their work was done as a team, Betsy still has a powerful resume on her own.

Betsy DeVos began her professional career working for the Republic National Committee in Michigan, and from there, she held a number of other positions: board member of the Foundation for Excellence in Education, chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party, and chairwoman of “Alliance for School Choice.” The last of those stops is probably the most demonstrative of DeVos’ philosophy; she strongly believes in school choice, and her actions throughout her career, and to this day, reflect that passion. DeVos isn’t a ideologue. She favors practicality and simply wants to find the solution that works.

Betsy, along with her husband Dick, have given enormous amounts of money to important causes. Unsurprisingly, much of DeVos’ philanthropy has supplemented and built educational organizations. One of her biggest donations was to Success Academy Charter Schools, which DeVos’ foundation donated $150,000 to. Another large donation was a $100,000 gift to The Potter’s House, a Christian school in Michigan. Along with these two, DeVos also donated to the University of Maryland College Park Foundation, the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy, and Loudspeaker Media Inc. While anyone is capable of “talking the talk,” DeVos financial contributions to these organizations puts more weight behind her words; she genuinely believes that implementing her philosophy into education will create large dividends for all students.

Betsy DeVos showcases her passion and love for education through every action. Whether she is serving or donating, her fervor for educational improvement is clear. Her new platform as the Secretary of Education is an exceptional opportunity for her. In this position, America will see her visions realized in a way never before. And with what’s known about DeVos, be assured that her changes and efforts will strengthen American schools for the future.

Betsy DeVos, also known as the 11th U.S. Secretary of Education. Before being elected, she and her husband, Dick DeVos, have been fighting for nearly three decades to help parents and children from low-income families to have access to better education for themselves. However, it all started with a big interest in education when she was just a child and her mother was a public school teacher. As she became a mother herself, the enthusiasm of education kept growing when she had to take her kids to school and realized the parents were doing everything to their power to give their children a safe environment, a place where they would learn, and still, most of the children did not had the opportunities of education they deserved. To start the history she has made throughout the years, she first got started by making a foundation that gave students a financial aid to low-income families, giving the chance to parents to decide where their children will study in the future. Then, she served for two national charities, Children First America and the American Education Reform Council, which both have the purpose or mission to distribute scholarships and vouchers to students who desire to choose the schools of their choice whether private, public or parochial. Visit Betsy’s profile page on facebook.com.

Her interest and dedication have led her to big opportunities and big changes for education in the United States. One of the many successful projects, this one named as The Great Lakes Education Project, an organization supporting public education of all Michigan students which its purpose is to gives the choice, quality and accountability to the student, it was very successful at the time and present. For fifth-teen years she worked as an in-school mentor for at-risk children in the Grand Rapids (Michigan) Public Schools. As a successful leader she has empowered parents, working to support of new educational choices for students in 25 states and the District of Columbia. Furthermore, to her leadership in the education world, she has served as chairman in The Windquest Group, an enterprise and investment management firm. Also, she has served in national and local charitable and civic organizations such as; Kids Hope USA, ArtPrize, Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Mars Hill Bible Church and the Kendall College of Art and Design. However, her biggest success have been in Florida, through its tax-credit scholarship program. It has an ever-growing number, over 50,000 of students attending the school of their family’s choice. Louisiana and Indiana passed programs that, between the two of them, have the potential to serve nearly one million students every year. Read more articles at MLive about Betsy.

Now being elected by the President Donald J. Trump she will work to advance equal opportunities education to all students. Betsy DeVos believes neither the ZIP code nor household should be the principal determinant to decide the educational outcome of students.